My favorite classes in college, where I majored in Historic Preservation, had to do with the study of material culture. Essentially, material culture is the stuff we make, use, save, and throw away, and you can learn a lot about a time, place, and people by looking closely at it—both at what has been saved and has survived, and what was discarded and unearthed through archaeological excavation. Cars definitely fall into this broad category, and this 1985 Toyota Celica GT is an example of a piece of material culture that has been used and preserved unusually carefully, at least for its first 33 years of existence. Let’s take a look here on eBay, where it’s listed out of Brooklyn, New York with an asking price of $8,950, and see what we can learn.
Unlike most cars of this vintage that we see in this condition, this Celica has been used, to the tune of 58,000 miles. It is a claimed one-owner car, and as pristine as it is, it also shows signs of how its use has evolved over time. From the dealer sticker on the rear and the sticker proclaiming that the car was treated with an “Electronic Rustproofing Shield” from The Protector—that stuff must really work!—to the cellular phone and its associated antennae, this car has a story to tell about its life that spans from the time it was new to today. One relic of its 1980s birth that I really like is the design of the styled steel wheels, something that would soon disappear from automotive fashion, replaced by lighter but more costly alloys.
The condition is the most remarkable thing about this car; otherwise, it’s a fairly soft, commuter-friendly take on the original Japanese pony car, with an automatic transmission, power windows and locks, a cassette player, and functional air conditioning. The stripey upholstery livens up what might otherwise be a drab gray interior. This is a car that was neither cheap nor very expensive when new, neither too practical or impractical—the sort of car you could treat well and keep for a long time and never be embarrassed of.
The legendary durability of the 2.4-liter 22R-E fuel injected inline four, upgraded for 1985 to produce 114 horsepower, has surely been a factor in this car’s survival. It’s easy to want to take care of something when it’s easy to take care of. The care this Celica received from its first owner has set its next owner up for years of low-hassle enjoyment. Not many of these Celicas have survived, and certainly vanishingly few in this condition; I’m glad we have this example to study and learn from, and I hope the next owner will preserve it just as well.
This is wonderful (better with the five speed). I should have bought this new instead of my 1988 Shelby Turbo Daytona (what a lemon). 30 years back I was still confused about cars not made in North America, brainwashed really, I know am fully educated. Maybe if Chrysler had put an extra 20 HP in the 2.5 non turbo, would have helped, but being a younger man at the time, I just loved when the 172 HP tossed me back in the seat. The standard turbo was only 142HP, and 120HP in a non turbo would have stole sales from the entry level turbo, oh well. I have a new 1.5 liter Honda turbo these days, just as powerful but much better behaved, and hopefully as reliable as all my other Hondas I have had over the years. I am on my 5th, bought the first new one on April Fools Day 1990, I traded in that lemon 1988 Dodge!
I remember this generation Toyota Celica. I prefer this any day over the current Toyotas on the US market.
Had an 85 GTS 5 speed hatch I bought for 1700 with 142k on it in late 90’s. Fixed the idler pulley on it, drove it for 5 years and another 100k. Sold it to a guy I went to high school with after he hounded me for a while for 1500. Wish I could do that good all the time. lol
At the time this was not the desirable model.
People wanted the hatchback and the 5 speed.
I am not sure after all this time the price should be this high on this model.
Kinda on the fence now, not a supra, not a hatch, not a stick. Too much for cutting up into a drift car. So ….
Looks nice on the surface. I just can’t buy a car from Brooklyn. And with an automatic….may need to come down about $2k on the price.
Yeah I grew up in Brooklyn, so I know what you mean.
It is just amazing that it was never stolen or rutted out.
Forget the GT, go straight to the GT-S. And yes, find a manual transmission one. Great cars, and I am sure that clean ones are hard to find.
I agree. I’ve always preferred the Celica GT-S. I’d buy an 83 Celica if I could find a decent example. I’d also like a Celica ST. :)
Agreed. Had an ‘82 GT-S hatchback with a 5-speed, Yokohamas, that pumped-up drivet’s seat and wonderful factory stereo. Fun, easy on gas and could hardly tell it was running when idling. Stolen immediately when I moved to NYC.
Stolen…. Dang!
My roommate had an ‘85 GTS hot hatch with the 4ag and those super-cool little squeezeball lumbar seat inflators!
They were also corolla based not celica based, but more desirable, thats why they are hard to come by.
Very nice example. I always liked these notch backs over the hatch.
I agree. Hatchbacks are good vehicles, but I’ve always preferred notchback cars.
Not interested and its right here in Brooklyn in my backyard. Now if it was a Z car or a RX7 then that would make it worthwhile.
The antenna on the right is a K40. A CB antenna I sold a lot of in the 70’s. So good it’s still made and hasn’t changed.
What a BARGAIN on a well preserved 1985 Toyota Celica GT!
Toyota’s are now today in 2018 and were then in 1985 throw away “Transportation” vehicles. To find a desirable “Notchback” Celica GT in this condition is a very special find in California in Brooklyn or anywhere else for that matter!
You could give me most any 1985 Celica GT (Hatchback/Notchback) and I could not even begin to restore the car to the condition of this original car.
In 1-3 years all you hater’s may not tell anyone else however in your own mind you just might remember this Celica GT for the bargain it is TODAY and wish you had tried to buy this car as it continues to appreciate BIG in value!
The only thing wrong with this is it doesn’t have the 5 speed.
I’d take the Celica any way. 5spd manual, or auto.
Nice classic Toyota. I rode in a few as a kid when they were new. I don’t really like the notchback look though. I also disagree that Toyotas then and now are “throw away” cars. Maybe they aren’t as exciting as a Hellcat, but not everyone wants that. Ive owned 5 Toyota’s and there is no need to ever throw one away as they never stop running!
I actually loved the notchback look Celica. I would’ve bought one if I were old enough at the time to drive. I was only 8 yrs old by the time this generation Celica debuted.
Have always loved how the GT-S looked like a junior Lambo Jarama.